Dansby Swanson: Prospect Profile for Diamondbacks' 1st-Round Pick

Player: Dansby Swanson

Position: SS

DOB: 2/11/1994 (Age: 21)

Height/Weight: 6'1", 190 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: Vanderbilt 

Previously Drafted: 2012, 38th round by Colorado Rockies

Background

Mark Humphrey/Associated Press

It would be hard to write a better script for a high-profile college player than the one Swanson has played out in three years at Vanderbilt. He played in only 11 games as a freshman in 2013 due to a shoulder injury, then returned in 2014 as part of the Commodores' national championship team. 

In 2015, with all eyes focused on his performance, Swanson proceeded to have his best year, with a .348/.441/.648 slash line and a career-high 14 home runs. The star junior surpassed his home run total from 2013-14 in the SEC tournament alone, per JJ Cooper of Baseball America:

College baseball isn't required to develop players for professional baseball, as coaches need to win games or else they are out of a job. However, it's refreshing to see how far the No. 1 overall pick has come—from an injury-marred freshman season to Golden Spikes Award finalist in 2015. 

Pick Analysis

There are going to be unrealistic expectations for Swanson because the Arizona Diamondback selected him No. 1 overall in this draft and based on what he did at arguably the nation's premier college program. 

Swanson has certainly added to that hype by increasing his offensive output in 2015 while learning to play a new position, which wasn't lost on MLB insiders, according to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic.

"After spending last season as the Commodores' everyday second baseman, he made a smooth transition to shortstop, seemingly convincing most of the industry he can play the position in the big leagues, and showed marked improvement across the board offensively," Piecoro wrote. 

Just being able to go from second base to shortstop would be hard enough, but combine that with trying to hit SEC pitching and suddenly Swanson was facing a steep uphill climb to build on his successful end to 2014. 

The 21-year-old handled everything with aplomb. ESPN Insider Keith Law's scouting report points out the only major knock in Swanson's game, despite what the numbers say this year:

"

His swing is quick and compact, and the ball jumps off of his bat to all parts of the field. He swings from a narrow base and doesn't make great use of his lower half, but he's strong enough that he has average raw power that will probably play just beneath that in games.

"

If Swanson projected to hit for more power, even in the 15- to 20-homer range, while playing solid defense at shortstop, there would be no debate about his status as the top overall prospect in the 2015 class. 

Yet even with the low power projections, Swanson's ability to work counts and get on base makes him a high-floor player who should turn into a quality big leaguer. 

Based on the way Swanson took to his new responsibilities as a junior at Vanderbilt and the meteoric rise he experienced, putting a limit on his skills coming into pro ball would be foolish. The 2014 College World Series Most Outstanding Player has earned his standing as a top draft pick over the last three years. 

Judging by his reaction to getting picked, it appears he is exited to be heading to the Diamondbacks organization, per Vanderbilt: 

MLB Player Comparison: Jed Lowrie

It's easy to forget now due to injuries that there was a time when Jed Lowrie was a highly touted prospect in the Boston Red Sox system, ranking 57th on the Baseball Prospectus Top 101 prospects list in 2008. He was never a fully fleshed-out player, lacking the arm strength and quickness to handle shortstop, but there was little doubt about his ability to hit and get on base. 

Swanson is a Lowrie type, possessing more speed to be a better fit at shortstop in the big leagues. He has some aggressiveness in his swing and has a tendency to strike out, though he's always been able to put together quality at-bats in the best baseball conference in the country. 

Projection: First-division starter, occasional All-Star

MLB ETA: 2017

Chances of Signing: 95 percent 

Swanson shot up draft boards so much over the last 12 months—dating back to Vanderbilt's College World Series title in 2014—that it would be foolish to think he would go back to college. Vandy is a great school that can provide a lot of opportunities, but there's only so much a baseball player can do for himself. There's no way to go higher in the draft than No. 1 overall, after all.

Plus, the D'Backs will happily pay for a polished college shortstop who will move quickly, can play the position at the highest level and projects as a solid hitter. Swanson will be donning a professional uniform before the July signing deadline.